Dual rocker switch assemblies including blocking means for preventing simultaneous operation of both switches

ABSTRACT

Dual rocker switch assembly in which each switch is provided with an operating member for moving a movable contact into engagement with a fixed contact. A blocking piece located adjacent the operating members is operative upon movement of one of the members to move its movable contact into engagement with the fixed contact to be positioned in the path of movement of the other operating member to prevent its movement.

I Umted States Patent 1 1 3,560,674

[72] Inventor Keith Lewis [51] lnt.Cl "01h 9/24 Burnley, England [50] Field of Search ZOO/50.3 21 A l. N0v 840,339 {22% Fif d July 9, i969 References Cited [45] Patented Feb. 2, [971 UNITED STATES PATENTS 731 Assigne Jo p Lucasflndustries) Limited 3,225,153 12/1965 Carling zoo 50.3

Birmingham, England a British Company f y miner-Robert K. Schaefer [32] Priority July 15, 1968 Assistant Examiner-M. Ginsburg l 331 GR Britain Attorney-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT: Dual rocker switch assembly in which each 1 DUAL ROCKER SWITCH ASSEMBLIES switch is provided with an operating member for moving a NCLUDING BLOCKING MEANS FOR movable contact into engagement with a fixed contact. A PREVENTING SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF blocking piece located adjacent the operating members is SWITCHES operative upon movement of one of the members to move its 3 Clmms 2 Drawmg movable contact into engagement with the fixed contact to be [52] U.S.Cl 200/50, positioned in the path of movement of the other operating 200/5 member to prevent its movement PATENTED m1" 219?! 7 35 0 nu ENTOR' BY 1 AT% This invention relates to electrical switch assemblies.

A switch assembly according to the invention includes a support member, a first switch including a first operating member carried by the support member, and contacts operable by the first operating member, a second switch including, a second operating member carried by the support member and positioned adjacent the first operating member and further contacts operable by the second operating member, and a blocking member adjacent said first and second operating members, said blocking member being resiliently urged to a position wherein it is engageable by either the first or second operating member during movement of the first or second operating member from a first position to a second position, and the arrangement being such that movement of one of the operating members from its first position to its second position while the other operating member is in its first position. serves to move said blocking member into the path of the other operating member, so that the other operating member cannot be moved into its second position while said one operating member is in its second position.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section view of a switch assembly and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the assembly.

Referring to the drawing the assembly includes a moulded synthetic resin body 11 which constitutes the casing for a pair of switches. Parallel to one another, and mounted for pivotal movement about substantially coextensive pivotal axes on the body 11 are a pair of rocker type operating members l2, 13 which are also moulded in synthetic resin. Supported by the body 11 are two sets of fixed switch contacts l4, l and movable within the body, in response to movement of their respective operating members I2, 13 are two sets of movable switch contacts l6, 17 which cooperate with their respective sets I4, of fixed contacts in response to movement of the operating members 12, 13. The two switches each include similarly orientated on and off positions, that is to say movement of the operating members l2, 13 of the switches from the off to an on position is in the same direction for both switches.

Each of the operating members 12, I3 includes a portion (indicated in the drawings by the suffix a) which extends towards the other operating member, and integral with the body 11 and extending towards the operating members 12, I3 is a resilient finger 18. The free end of the resilient finger I8 is in the form of a truncated rectangular pyramid, the base of which is integral with the free end of the finger 18. The truncated end of the pyramidal portion of the finger I8 is positioned adjacent the lower edges of the outwardly extending portions 120, 13a of the operating members, when the operating members are in their off positions, and is midway between the operating members. The spacing between the portions 120, 13a of the operating members is slightly greater than the width of the fiat portion 19 at the free end of the pyramidal portion of the finger, but is quite substantially less than the width of the base of the pyramidal portion of the finger.

The operation of the switch assembly in use is as follows. When, for example, the operating member 13 is moved from its off position to its on position, then the portion 130 thereof engages an inclined face of the pyramidal portion of the finger l8, and during movement from the off position to the on position the portion 130 rides on said inclined face and flexes the finger I8 towards the operating member 12. The dimensions of the operating members and of the resilient finger are such that while the operating member I3 is in its on position, the finger 18 is maintained in its flex position, and in the flexed position of the finger 18, the fiat portion 19 of the pyramidal portion of the finger engages the lower surface of the portion 12a of the operating member 12, and so prevents movement of the operating member I2 from its off position to its on position. The operation of the assembly when the operating member 12 rs moved to its on position with the operating member 13 in its off position is similar to that described, the member 13 then being held by the finger 18. Thus, in order for either of the operating members 12, 13 to be moved from its off position to its on position the other of the operating members must be in its off position.

In one practical embodiment of the switch assembly described above, the switches are connected in the windscreen wiper motor circuit of a road vehicle. One of the switches when in its on position causes normal operation of the wiper motor, while the other switch when in its on position causes intermittent energization of the motor. It will be appreciated that if both switches could be moved to their on positions simultaneously, then damage would be done to the wiper motor.

It will be appreciated that the resilient finger 18 could be integral with a nacelle surrounding, and supporting, a pair of totally independent switches having their own bodies, and moreover the finger could be integral with the body of one of a pair of independent switches having their own respective bodies. Furthermore the finger 18 could be a separate part secured in the desired position by any convenient means.

lclaim:

1. A dual rocker switch assembly including:

a support member;

a first switch including a first operating member carried by the support member, and having contacts operably in response to movement of the first operating member;

a second switch including a second operating member carried by the support member, the second operating member being positioned adjacent said first operating member, and the second switch including further contacts operably in response to movement of the second operating member; and

a blocking member adjacent said first and second operating members, said blocking member being in the fonn of a resilient finger fixed relative to the support member, but capable of flexure relative to the support member, said resilient finger being resiliently urged to a position wherein it is engageable by either the first or second operating member during movement of the first or second operating member from a first position to a second position, and movement of one of the operating members from its first position to its second position while the other operating member is in its first position, serves to move said resilient finger into the path of movement of the other operating member, so that said other operating member cannot be moved into its second position while said one operating member remains in its second position. 2. The assembly as claimed in claim I wherein said support member constitutes a common casing for said first and second switches and said first and second operating members are carried directly by said support member.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blocking member is constituted by a resilient finger carried by said support member. 

1. A dual rocker switch assembly including: a support member; a first switch including a first operating member carried by the support member, and having contacts operably in response to movement of the first operating member; a second switch including a second operating member carried by the support member, the second operating member being positioned adjacent said first operating member, and the second switch including further contacts operably in response to movement of the second operating member; and a blocking member adjacent said first and second operating members, said blocking member being in the form of a resilient finger fixed relative to the support member, but capable of flexure relative to the support member, said resilient finger being resiliently urged to a position wherein it is engageable by either the first or second operating member during movement of the first or second operating member from a first position to a second position, and movement of one of the operating members from its first position to its second position while the other operating member is in its first position, serves to move said resilient finger into the path of movement of the other operating member, so that said other operating member cannot be moved into its second position while said one operating member remains in its second position.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support member constitutes a common casing for said first and second switches and said first and second operating members are carried directly by said support member.
 3. The assembly as claimed In claim 1 wherein said blocking member is constituted by a resilient finger carried by said support member. 